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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Where should I call you? Or is email better? |
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4x4abc
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
e-mail |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
So my DHL Box arrived from Hamburg, stuffed with goodies....Most notably, are the contents of the binders. Records, records, and more records.
- All TUV paperwork
- All Insurance Records from Insurance Policy
- Letter explaining about the Engraved Silver Plaque Presented to the 500 GE Owner
- Official Sales Offer from Niederlassung Munchen with their price offer, and acknowledgement that the vehicle "had no damage" and "no accidents"
- Mercedes Gelaendewagen Driving School Certificate
- 3 Original Sales Orders (!) (!) (!) Three versions as they original owner kept adding accessories to the 500 GE (!)
The 500 GE I picked up has EVERY option for its year.
Electric Driver AND Front Passenger Seats? Check.
Heated Windscreen? Check.
Heated Seats? Check.
Webasto Heater? Check.
etc....
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| RE: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Take a look... |
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4x4abc
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
| RE: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
and Mercedes did not forget to add DM 7.20 for the title |
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brabus g36
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Vehicle(s): 89 230GE cabrio, 88 280GE LWB, 87 300GD pickup
Posts: 608
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
I can't see the picture but seems very interesting. How did you obtain it? Can it be done for any G that was delivered in Germany? |
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4x4abc
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
pics were dutched because they were longer than 1000 pix on the longest sides |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Why aren't members willing to scroll over to see a picture? (Out of curiosity)
Just asking.
Edited by H1LM002G55 1/15/2012 2:01 AM
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| RE: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Picture 1
 (img1830jx.jpg)
Attachments
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 img1830jx.jpg (72KB - 0 downloads)
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| RE: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Photo
 (img1831h.jpg)
Attachments
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img1831h.jpg (65KB - 0 downloads)
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| RE: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Bill....
 (img1832ae.jpg)
Attachments
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img1832ae.jpg (60KB - 1 downloads)
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greybrick
Regular
Date registered: Dec 2011
Location: Alberta, Canada and Sinaloa, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 94 G350 DT
Posts: 63
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Congratulations on finding an excellent vehicle. Did the local dealership have a request sent to Euro MB dealers to contact them once the target vehicle became available or did you contact the Euro dealerships yourself ? |
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G-AMG
G-Class DIY Host
Date registered: May 2006
Location: South Texas
Vehicle(s): '04 G55, '80 280GE, '99 S420, '98 E320, 2011 E350
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Hmmm, was the Glock and the Recon Knife part of the Northern German Standard G Tool Kit?? Funny, neither of my G's have that.. ;-)
When are you going to show some photos of the truck?? |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
greybrick - 1/15/2012 11:46 AM
Congratulations on finding an excellent vehicle. Did the local dealership have a request sent to Euro MB dealers to contact them once the target vehicle became available or did you contact the Euro dealerships yourself ?
I knew the dealership where the 500 GE came from and where it was serviced.
I used my local dealer to contact the German dealer because of privacy concerns and inter-dealership cooperation is easier in order to get information out of Germany.
In Germany, I guess they are extremely private with all information, even cars, as a result of post WWII reparations and things of that sort...
P.S. I did end up talking to the German dealer on several occasions. After establishing everything was on "the up and up" they were very nice and spoke English.
Edited by H1LM002G55 1/15/2012 12:58 PM
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greybrick
Regular
Date registered: Dec 2011
Location: Alberta, Canada and Sinaloa, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 94 G350 DT
Posts: 63
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
Thanks, I'll see if the guys at LoneStar can help find an older 290gd for our northern roads. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
greybrick - 1/15/2012 1:26 PM
Thanks, I'll see if the guys at LoneStar can help find an older 290gd for our northern roads.
No, you are not understanding.
This truck was imported into the U.S. and then EPA and DOT certified.
I only used my local dealer to help me obtain the German maintenance records for the vehicle. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
To the "eagle eyes" that notice the stainless steel metal bar on the ceiling in the back of the 500 GE, running horizontally above the cargo area, here is the story, again, from the owner's daughter:
2. the stainless steel metal bar has a very funny background. Actually you wont find it in any of the others 500 GE. It was a custom product for my dad. And he needed something to hang up his suits and shirts.
It works fantastic. And it IS stainless steel. Solid as can be. I used it last week on a road trip to hang my shirts and jacket. It is very nice. |
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Roly
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Australia
Vehicle(s): 1999 G500
Posts: 661
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
But there is a coat hanger hook on the roof mounted grip handles above both rear doors. He must have liked his suits. Great peace of history |
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dentsmithy
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2007
Location: NFA
Vehicle(s): 1986 230Ge, , 1979 240gd cabrio, AD-SL
Posts: 912
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
H1LM002G55 - 1/14/2012 7:00 AM Why aren't members willing to scroll over to see a picture? (Out of curiosity) Just asking. Some folks are on dial up which slows things down enough and with a large picture every post in the thread becomes the photo width so you have to scroll like a mad man to read everything. 
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: After 10+ years, I have my 500 GE.
So, what you really all want to know about....Driving Impressions:
So far, so good. I really like it.
I do not believe there is a *significant* difference in driveability or performance compared to the G55 (naturally aspirated).
When you open the door to the 500 GE, you get hit with the smell. A lovely smell of 80s Mercedes. Like a W126 S-Class car. My 500 GE smells new still and I love the smell. Quality leather, velour carpet, lots of stuff made in Germany.
Turning over the motor, you are greeted with the subtle rumble of the 2 valve V8 motor. It sort of says, "I have some power, but I am also understated"...the motor at low RPMS sounds better than the G55. But the G55 has much more "midrange sound output" and thrust.
Driving Impressions: When you close the doors, you have to slam them. They feel more substantial than the G55s doors. This is a proper Mercedes. Nothing rattles or shakes. The cabin is very quiet. You get wind noise at 75-80 miles per hour, but you get that in a G55. The suspension is much better than the early AMG sport suspension fitted to the G55. And the 500 GE has an AMG suspension, complete with HWA part numbers for shocks, etc...It is firm, yet not crashingly so as in the G55. It is a very, very comfortable ride. As if you are wafting in a proper S-Class.
The transmission is a 4 speed, acceleration and power from the motor are quite good, probably as a result of the gearing.
Air Conditioning performance has been great so far, not that it is cold in South Florida. Heater has also been great, along with heated seats.
My only gripes:
1. The arm rests are too short and are pretty useless. You essentially rest your elbow on the front edge of the arm rest. Your forearm never really touches it.
2. The electric seats do not allow for adjustment of height of seat base up and down. I wish I could lower the seats or raise the steering column slightly. I like sitting lower in the vehicle and have the G55 seats in the lowest height position. The steering column on the 500 GE is not adjustable up and down whatsoever.
I guess this is a mixed blessing, as there are no extra electric motors to fail, etc...
3. The 500 GE has disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear. Does not replicate G55 brake feel.
The 500 GE is a heavy truck, and it feels a little under braked. They built the 500 GE with drum brakes in the rear as, when offroad, drum brakes do a better job of "holding" the vehicle than disc brakes.
I have seen at least two Japanese 500 GE owners fit AMG G55 brakes and calipers to the front of their 500 GEs. It is a little extreme. And it is not a huge issue.
4. I have a leather airbag steering wheel in the 500 GE. I don't use the multitude of buttons that the G55 has. But I did like being able to increase/decrease audio volume and change CD tracks with the G55 steering wheel, since I do not listen to radio.
Modifications I have made thus far:
Removed "Yellow" marker lights and exchanged for "Clear" marker lights.
I saved the original "Yellow" marker lights as they are part of the history of the vehicle and part of how it was configured.
The German owner had fitted a Sony CD/Cassette deck receiver with 10 disc changer. The changer was mounted in the cargo area, on the right fender well. The CD changer looked out of place as it was exposed on top of the fender well.
I removed this and installed a Nakamichi MB-X CD player with integrated 6 disc CD changer. It also has an external 24 bit Digital/Analog Converter. Illumination matches Mercedes Benz dash illumination perfectly.
Nakamichi builds OEM look, audiophile grade receivers.
I also needed to change the Sony CD/Cassette deck receiver because the tuner would pick up German frequencies, but not American radio frequencies (or only part of the spectrum).
Maintenance items I have done thus far, which will be part of a post on the DIY forum:
1) Air Filter
2) Oil Change and Oil Filter (Currently running high zinc Amsoil 10W-40 full synthetic for next 1000 miles. This is a thinner oil than required. Amsoil 10W40 is highly detergent as well. I am using this in preparation for a switch to Amsoil 15W40 AME or Mobil One 15W50...both full synthetic.
3. Transmission pan and filter change. Drained torque converter, changed filter, fitted new transmission gasket seal, fitted new transmission pan, added magnet to transmission pan. Currently running Red Line Synthetic ATF, DII specification. This is what is called for on 722.3 transmissions from Mercedes and Red Line is the only United States producer of a Synthetic DII ATF from my research.
4. Changed Brake Fluid. Ordered from MB dealer.
5. Changed V Belts
6. Changed Fuel Filter
7. Flushed windscreen washer / headlamp washer system and filled with MB Summer Windshield Washer Concentrate
I still have left to do:
Grease the grease fittings
Front Axle Service
Rear Axle Service
Transfer Case drain and fill
Cooling System Flush and Fill
Power Steering System Flush and Fill (Interestingly, it does NOT look like the 500 GE has a power steering system filter)
*Refresh grease in Homokinetic Joint
* Check grease Level and Refresh grease in front axle swivel housings
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